Golf game

ABSTRACT

A golf ball driving range includes a plurality of rows of ball stops spaced at varying distances from the tee-off area. Each stop is shaped in the form of a semicircle, with the opening thereof facing the tee-off area. An electrical system is provided to sense when a driven golf ball enters a stop. This system may take the form of photoelectric units mounted at the front of each stop or, alternatively, electrical wires embedded in the vertical walls and inclined floor of each stop. The sensing system actuates flashing indicator lights associated with each row of stops and the lights of each row are of different colors. An inclined ball return channel is provided within each stop, adjacent the juncture of the rearwardly inclined floor thereof and the walls of the stop. A game of golf may be played by assigning a par to each row of stops and counting the number of shots required to drive a golf ball into one stop of each row.

ilnited States [72] Inventor Thomas R. Qaln 3,310,310 3/1967 McKee 273/176 A 5265 Csliiornia Way, firadlse, Calif. 3,559,996 2/1971 Hopp 273/181 H 35969 a w] 221 Filed June 2,1970 y [45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 ABSTRACT: A golf ball driving range includes a plurality of rows of ball stops spaced at varying distances from the tee-off [54] GOLF GAME area. Each stop is shaped in the form of a semicircle, with the 5 Claims 4 Drawing Figs opening thereof facing the tee-off area. An electrical system s provided to sense when a driven golf ball enters a stop. This [52] US. Cl 273/176 A, System may lake m fol-m of photoglecu-ic units mounted at 273/182 273/184 R the front of each stop or, alternatively, electrical wires em- [51] Int. Cl A63b67/02, beddgd in the vertical walls and inclined floor of each Stop A63]? 69/36 The sensing system actuates flashing indicator lights as- [50] Field of Search 273/176, Seemed with each row f stops and the lights f each row are v 35 ofdifferent colors An inclined ball return channel is provided within each sto ad'acent the 'uncture of the rearwardly [:6] References Cited inclined floor th reof ind the wall s of the stop. A game of golf UNITED STATES PATENTS may be played by assigning a par to each row of stops and 2,743,929 5/1956 Smith 273/181 E counting the number of shots required to drive a golf ball into 2,784,001 3/1957 Simjian 273/181 E X one stop ofeach row.

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now GAME This invention relates to a game of skill in driving golf balls to predetermined distances having different colored lights for indicating means for telling the player when their golf balls has been stopped by a sensing means which registers their drive.

A primary object of this invention is to provide means for registering the distance of a golfers drive.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for stopping a golf ball and storing it for reuse.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf range whereby a pinball like game may be played for amusement while players simultaneously get experience in developing their ability to drive the golf ball to certain distances and to aim the golf ball at certain points along the width of the range.

The above and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golf range;

1 l6. 2 is a plan view ol'a golf stop;

FlG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a golf score card.

Referring in detail to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a series of sectioned tees lb atone end of a golf-driving range 12. One hundred yards from tees ll) down the range is a row of semicircular golf ball stops 14, and there are subsequent rows of stops 14 every 50 yards thereafter up to 250 yards from tees 10. A power source 16 delivers electrical power to each row of stops 14 by means of electrical line 18 which branches off into row line 21). Lines are taken off the secondary windings ofa low-voltage transformer 22 which is connected to line 18. Lines 20 supply power to a relay 24, as seen in FIG. 2, associated with each stop 14 and keep signs 26 lit for indicating the IOO-yard ISO-yard, ZOO-yard, and 250-yard rows of stops l4. Each stop 14 has a 30 foot diameter and is 30 feet distant from adjacent stops 14.

Referring to the FlGS. 2 and 3, steel pipes are embedded in concrete in the ground in order to support stop 14 in an upright position. The semicircular wall 42 of stop 14 comprising a one-half inch rubber mat embedded with relay wire connected to relay 24. When a ball makes contact with wall 42, relay 24 is actuated to close circuit with flashing lights 44 which preferably flash five times at one second intervals. Lights 44 will have different colors for each row of stops 14 in order to facilitate scoring and prevent confusion among the players. An alternate method of sensing and registering a golf ball is the stationing of electric eyes 46 at the front of each end of semicircular stop 14 for actuating flashing lights 44 by means of line 48 upon the sensing of passage ofa golf ball. A ramp 50 slopes up to the front of stop 14 flush with the bottom 52 thereof which slopes downward toward the rear of stop 14. Adjacent the inside circumference of wall 42 is a ball return channel 54. A golf ball 56, after rebounding off wall 42, rolls down bottom 52 into channel 54 and rolls down the incline of channel 54 along the inside circumference of wall 42 until channel 54 leads ball 56 out from the front end of stop 14. It should be mentioned that bottom 52 may be plywood or it may also consist of a rubber mat embedded with relay wire to account for situations where ball 56 does not make contact with wall 42. before dropping into channel 54. A wire mesh 58 is positioned in front of lights 64 to prevent breakage from driven balls.

The game is preferably played in the following manner. Each player drives golf balls aiming for the IOO-yard stop 14 until one ball finally is driven into one of stops 14. The player counts up his strokes and puts the number under the IOO-yard column along the row where his name is written in a golf score card as illustrated in FIG. 4. The player next drives golf balls trying to get a ball in one of the ISO-yard stops l4 and so on for each row of stops 14 up to 250-yard row, the total number of strokes then being marked down in the appropriate column.

This procedure may be repeated, the total number of strokes for each player for all repetitive games being placed in a lower right hand row on the score card. The player having the lowest score of course wins as in conventional golf.

While the preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, ball channel 54 may lead to a return ball tunnel for bringing the golf balls of each row of stops 14 back to the tee area. There are also obviously many ways of playing this game as well as benefits to be derived therefrom. Players may aim for certain stops 14 along any particular row in order to develop their ability to drive a golf ball in any direction. The game may be played with points assigned to each row of stops 14 with each player being allowed a predetermined number of strokes and the winning player getting the most points, the point value of stops l4 varying from a low-point value at the 1,00l-yard mark to the highest value at the 250-yard mark.

I claim:

1. A golf game, comprising a driving range, a tee at one end thereof, a plurality of rows of ball stops spaced from each other and from said tee, each said stop shaped in the form of a semicircle with the opening thereof facing said tee, sensing means attached to each said stop, indicating means connected to said sensing means and actuated thereby for telling the player when he has driven a ball into said stop, and ball return means within said stop and adjacent to the inside walls thereof.

2. The golf game of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an electric eye mounted at the front of said stop and detecting the passage of a ball through the opening thereof.

3. The golf game of claim 1, wherein said sensing means in cludes the semicircular wall of said stops, said wall comprising a rubber mat with electrical wire embedded therein, and a relay connected to said wire and being actuated upon contact of said wall with the golf ball.

4. The golf game of claim 3, wherein said ball return means includes an inclined bottom of said stop sloping downward from the open front of said stop toward the rear thereof, and a channel at the bottom of said stop adjacent to the inside surface of said wall, said channel at the rear of said stop being positioned between said wall and the bottommost portion of said bottom, said channel sloping downward and leading outside the front of said stop for preventing golf balls from bouncing back out of said stop due to high impact against said wall and for collecting the golf balls at a convenient storage point.

5. The golf game of claim 4, wherein said sensing means includes said bottom, said bottom comprising a rubber mat with wire embedded therein and electrically connected to said relay for actuating said indicating means in situations where there is no impact with said wall. 

1. A golf game, comprising a driving range, a tee at one end thereof, a plurality of rows of ball stops spaced from each other and from said tee, each said stop shaped in the form of a semicircle with the opening thereof facing said tee, sensing means attached to each said stop, indicating means connected to said sensing means and actuated thereby for telling the player when he has driven a ball into said stop, and ball return means within said stop and adjacent to the inside walls thereof.
 2. The golf game of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an electric eye mounted at the front of said stop and detecting the passage of a ball through the opening thereof.
 3. The golf game of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes the semicircular wall of said stops, said wall comprising a rubber mat with electrical wire embedded therein, and a relay connected to said wire and being actuated upon contact of said wall with the golf ball.
 4. The golf game of claim 3, wherein said ball return means includes an inclined bottom of said stop sloping downward from the open front of said stop toward the rear thereof, and a channel at the bOttom of said stop adjacent to the inside surface of said wall, said channel at the rear of said stop being positioned between said wall and the bottommost portion of said bottom, said channel sloping downward and leading outside the front of said stop for preventing golf balls from bouncing back out of said stop due to high impact against said wall and for collecting the golf balls at a convenient storage point.
 5. The golf game of claim 4, wherein said sensing means includes said bottom, said bottom comprising a rubber mat with wire embedded therein and electrically connected to said relay for actuating said indicating means in situations where there is no impact with said wall. 